Our work in Zambia

Like its neighbours, Zambia was devastated by the dual epidemic of TB and HIV that swept through sub-Saharan Africa in the 1980s and 1990s. However, the country has succeeded in bringing down deaths from TB by almost half since the 1990s, during a period of political stability and economic growth.

But tuberculosis remains a deadly killer disease and HIV transmission is still high. Each day, more than 150 people fall ill with TB — many of them HIV positive — and 31 people die from it.

Because TB/HIV continues to be such a massive problem in Zambia, we are involved in two projects that tackle coinfection. This year we are winding up our COTHAZ awareness and advocacy project with seven local NGOs in six areas of the country. We are also monitoring a new TB project with Chichetekelo Outreach Partners to tackle TB in prisons and ensure that TB medicines are fully available to people when they need them.